Pretty Dudes is an American LGBTQ digital dramedy created by Chance Calloway that tells the story of a group of friends in Southern California who navigate in and out of platonic and romantic relationships. Predominantly featuring an inclusive and intersectional cast and crew, the series stars an ensemble that includes Xavier Avila, Tiffany Commons, Bryan Michael Nuñez, Kyle Rezzarday, Manny Shih, Joshuah Noah Snel, Aria Song, Tae Song, Yoshi Sudarso, and Olivia Thai. Pretty Dudes aired initially on YouTube and streams on Amazon Prime Video and VOD service Stoopid Ambitious as of 2019.Amazon Video: Pretty Dudes. Retrieved July 1, 2019Stoopid Ambitious: Pretty Dudes. Retrieved December 24, 2019
Premise Set in the greater Los Angeles area, the series follows a group of millennial friends of varying races, genders, and backgrounds as they navigate platonic and romantic relationships. Photographer Zario (Bryan Michael Nuñez), business law student Ellington (Xavier Avila), gamer Alexander (Kyle Rezzarday), and doumi Jay (Tae Song) live with model Sunji (Yoshi Sudarso), where they are frequently visited by hard-drinking neighbor Eagle (Olivia Thai). After entering a bet to get Zario a new boyfriend, resentments and betrayals cause friction in the group. The second season expands the main group to include painter Kish (Tiffany Commons), art gallery owner December (Aria Song), Ellington's younger brother Marshall (Joshuah Noah Snel), and December's younger brother Boaz (Manny Shih).
Cast and characters
Main cast CharacterActorOccupationSeasons 1 1.5 Hector "Zario" del RosarioBryan Michael Nuñezphotographer Main Guest Ellington Gomez-PachecoXavier Avilabusiness law student Main Jericho "Jay" KimTae Songdoumi Main Alexander ErzhählerKyle Rezzardaygamer Main Sunji SpencerYoshi Sudarsomodel and actor Main Eagle DiolosaOlivia Thaiactive duty airman Main Marshall Gomez-PachecoJoshuah Noah Snelunknown Recurring Main December LínAria Song*art critic Recurring Main Rock DiolosaMarc Fajardounknown Recurring Main Kish YanceyTiffany Commonspainter Main Boaz LínManny Shih*photographer Main Cassian "The Body" CrosbyChristian Olivo†actor Main †Prior to joining the cast as season two regulars, both Manny Shih and Aria Song appeared earlier in the season, Song in a guest spot (episode: "The Death of Romeo") and Shih in a recurring status.*Olivo appeared in a recurring status for the majority of the season, though was credited as a lead for his initial consecutive appearances.
Recurring
Stacy Snyder as Mandy Cesar Cipriano as Shane Cortez Chelsea Gray as Ty Kelsey Toussant as Calligraphy "Callie" Reynolds Stanley Wong as Erwin Lee Leo Lam as Gregory Carlin James as Elijah Nicko Sabado as Lando Courtney Grant as Tevin Sammy Cantu as Ken Dahl (season 2) Charlit Dae as Ram Takada (season 2) Tatiana A. Lee as Geneva Fauntleroy (season 2) Anthony Ma as Michael Michigan (season 2) Brennan Mejia as Carver Gomez-Pacheco (season 2) Peter Adrian Sudarso as Quincy (season 2) Angelique Maurnae as Armoni Chantal (season 2) Henita Telo as Fable (season 2) Amira Gray as Nia (season 2) Dickie Hearts as Chance (season 1) Michael Bow as Genie (season 1) Clifford Cisneros as Zach Largaespada (season 1) Tony Garbanzos as Patrick (season 1) Beau Sia as Stranger (season 1)
Guest Dion Basco as Samuel ("All-American Type") Osric Chau as Vincint ("The Death of Romeo") Giovannie Espiritu Wilson Lai as Korey ("Spectrum") Avalon Penrose as White Kish ("Chicos Lindos")
Episodes
Season 1
Season 2
Soundtrack Season 1 How We Break ("Pretty Dudes" Anthem) by Matt Almodiel, Chance Calloway and Peter Su Overthinking by COAH Man Made Mess by Tim Be Told Invisible World (Disappear) by Paul Dateh Stuck On You by Marc Hightower What You Have by Nathan Ray Penland Old-Fashioned Love by Peter Su Underneath by Brandyn Burnette Wasted by Tim Be Told Orion by Ryan Mitchell Grey Change the World by Sivan Levi Santa Barbara by Peter Su
Season 2 How We Break (A.J. Sealy Remix) by Matt Almodiel, Chance Calloway and Peter Su Nobody Freakin''' by Megan Vice
Short films and other media
Pretty Dudes: Caught Gay-HandedCaught Gay-Handed was the very first Pretty Dudes-related project, released April 30, 2017.
How We Break ("Pretty Dudes" Anthem) Chance Calloway and Gerry Maravilla co-directed the Malibu-set music video for the series anthem. Featuring Nuñez in an unnamed role implied to be Zario, other cast members also appear in the video alongside the song's singers Matt Almodiel, Calloway and Peter Su. The song and several remixes were released as an EP compilation.
Pretty Dudes: The Double Entendre Containing two episodes, "Bravo Double Delta" and "Brother's Keeper," this short was co-written by all of the season 2 writers, Chance Calloway, Christopher Edelen, and Andrea Lee.
This short doesn't seem to be in canon with the actual plot of season 2. Among other things, The Dude House is a different location, singer Tanerélle plays Kish (actress Tiffany Commons has been cast in the same role for season two), and Sammy Cantu plays a character named Aza Keeper, where his season two character is named Ken Dahl.
Pretty Dudes: The NovelPretty Dudes: The Novel, a novelization of the first season was released on July 7, 2020.
RAM (Like the Verb) In 2024, Calloway released RAM (Like the Verb), which centered on Charlit Dae's season two character Ram Takada. The film premiered on the film festival circuit.
Reception Critical reception The show's first season received a positive response from critics who mostly praised its diversity and inclusive storylines. Philip Hernandez of Black Talent TV called Pretty Dudes "a one a kind web series." Asyiqin Haron of Geeks of Color called the show "incredibly diverse," highlighting the "great storytelling." It was listed as one of "9 Dope, Black Web Series To Dive into for the Summer" by Shadow and Act, called "extraordinary" and "the rare series that showcases nuanced friendship between gay and straight men" by Jordan Simon who went on to add, "If you love Noah's Arc, you will enjoy this.". While noting that Pretty Dudes seemed "created for the gay male and female gaze," Devin Randall complimented the "truly fleshed out story" in a review for Instinct Magazine. RIZEup Magazine called the series "trendsetting." In a negative review, queerguru'' said the series has a "lightweight plot" "intended to be watched only by other millenials."
Awards and nominations YearAwardsCategoryRecipientsResult 2017NYPS AwardsBest SeriesPretty DudesBest Performance by an AllyXavier Avila2018Asians on Film Festival of ShortsBest Music VideoHow We Break ("Pretty Dudes" Anthem)2019LGBTQ Shorts Film FestivalBest LGBTQ ShortPretty Dudes: The Double EntendreComedy Shorts Film FestivalBest Comedy Short2024Absurd Film FestivalBest LGBTQ+RAM (Like the Verb)Chinatown International Film FestivalBest DirectorChance CallowayBest DocumentaryRAM (Like the Verb)Best Visual Art
References
External links